North vs South
 

this is a slight spinoff from the girl beer etiquette but that thread brought this to mind...my co-worker turned close friend is from Syracuse, I'm from NC...(we are the same age different races) and her "manners" in general are horrible IMO...from belching/farting out loud in public, to allowing her children (3 girls) to answer an adult with a "what", and allowing them to think announcing their farts is funny...she will drink beer from a bottle/can and is just crass all the way around...she claims its regional and feels that I'm way too hard on my daughter, but I feel I'm raising a young "lady" and although I love her kids she's raising ummm not young "ladies"...she claims life up north is different and she and her husband both say I'm too damn proper..

my question..for those of you who are transplanted either from the north to the south or vice versa do find a difference in "manners" or is my friend the exception from most northern women???

I grew up in Mississippi and right now I'm in Kansas. There is a DEFINITE difference in hospitality and manners! Now granted, I went to what is basically known as "etiquette school" so while I don't expect 100% good manners from everyone, I do expect people to exercise some basic decorum in public and in front of others. That's just simply being nice and polite - two traits you don't have to learn in etiquette school if you're raised right.

An dont get me started on kids answering their parents with "what". Growing up if i answered my parents or any old person for that matter with "what", I would gotten snatched up real quick. But I think that's just a parenting thing and not just a southern thing.....least I hope not.

What's wrong with answering "what?" I never heard of this.

Maybe she was just drinking from a bottle because her chalice was dirty. :rolleyes:

There's no regional difference. Rude people with no home training are everywhere.

It is extremely rude IMO. "Yes?", sounds much better. My mother nipped that one in the bud really early with my sister and I.

Same here. If my mother calls me or something am I supposed to respond with "oh yes, mother dearest?"

We didn't get the option of saying "what" or "yes". It was "yes ma'am' or "yes sir". LOL

In general, the polite way to answer is "Yes" or something to that effect. "What" is perceived as rude/defensive to many people.

I grew up in the south and moved up to the midwest when I was an adolescent. I also went to college down south my first couple years and transferred back to the midwest. I think in general, there is a difference in politeness with strangers between the north and south. When we moved to Ohio, my family was surprised when we went to grocery stores and the clerks didn't greet us and such.

Midwesterners can be very friendly/polite people, but more so with people we know, in my experience.

It's rude. A child should respond "yes?" and if they don't hear what an adult says, say something like "excuse me?"

My mother never let us say "nevermind" to an adult either because it's dismissive. Children should always have respect and deference for adults.

To this day I speak to my elders in a respectful manner.

I'm in STL, I hear people belch in public all the time - all ages and both genders. I used to be really grossed out by it, but I hear it so often, it doesn't bother me anymore. Fortunately, people are more discreet about farting in public, but when it happens, I crack up at them. I don't get offended though.

Judging from internet posts, and not just from GC, I think the difference/importance of manners is definately a location thing. Some of the stuff I read is unheard of and I wasn't raised by wolves, nor many of the people I interact with. Chewing gum in public rude? Eating spaghetti with a fork tacky? Drinking beer from the bottle/can tacky? WTF?

Sure, if your mom is Joan Crawford.:rolleyes:

NO...WIRE...HANGERS!!!!!!!!

LOL!